University of Applied Sciences, Fulda

Poland

Part one

The attendance policy and the classes in Poland are quite dependent on the students. Poland also had a regulated, disciplined system for a long time, but apparently this has had little effect on this particular part of the social system. It is the individual who is responsible for everything. If this can be generalised, then one can claim that Poland is high in individuality and not so high in power distance.
The Polish student describes previous experiences at a Polish university: ". . . I could just make what I want, you can call it, for example– because in my studies there were only lectures, nearly lectures. So if you can attend it or not you could choose. If you want you can go, if you don’t want you can just– not go and spend the evening in a different way." This was the rule, but there were a few exceptions to this rule, ". . . some professors wanted, . . . so they made some list of, list of names . . . but not in many classes, just in some lectures, and it wasn’t a rule, but it was possible."

The relationship between the students and the professors is not so close. This is considered a sign of being an adult, because an adult is responsible for whatever s/he does and does not need guidance specifically: ". . . [the relationship] wasn’t close, because, because, it is different– it is different from Germany, when we can compare it, of course, from ICEUS I would say it is different, because here I feel like a pupil in the high-school, but in Poland I felt really like a student. Maybe it doesn’t mean good . . . but it was like an adult person. I just had some lectures and it was my business, nobody was willing to help me, I was just alone . . ." The other reason which is given, like in other eastern European countries, is the workload: "In Poland the professors are overloaded with work, because they take many, because now there are many new schools, new universities, private . . . they don’t have much time, they are not so involved . . ."

In spite of such a strong individuality, politics play a significant role. In fact, politics are so significant that the interviewee believes this is a universal reality. This may have resulted from efforts to survive in a system where each individual's political beliefs were watched closely. In reply to the question about the role of politics, the polish student says: "... yes, of course, I think it is everywhere. You must know the person and you must behave as this person would like you to behave. It’s normal . . ."
As far as the services are concerned, Poland is also facing some problems: ". . . in Poland that looks really, really poor . . . we didn’t have any services, only these speaking hours. . . . in Germany that is good that I don’t have to pay for copying, for copying material. Maybe it is funny, but it is really important, because it is much money . . ."